The Need.

In 2016, Early childhood leaders in Denver have launched the Birth to Eight Roadmap initiative, a new effort that seeks to dramatically improve outcomes and close opportunity and achievement gaps by investing in the city’s youngest learners. Research affirms that children who do not read proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to leave school without a diploma than proficient readers. Yet, supporting our youngest learners in achieving reading proficiency is a complex endeavor given the multiple factors that impact language and literacy. With local philanthropic support, Denver Public Schools, the Mayor’s Office of Children’s Affairs and Denver’s early childhood community will articulate a shared Roadmap for serving children ages birth through eight years old.

The Strategy.

No entity can do this alone – it takes sustained partnerships between Denver Public Schools, the City of Denver, community partners, public agencies, parents and caregivers to achieve such a complex goal. “Throughout 2017, hundreds of representatives from Denver’s early childhood community came together to develop specific action plans around the Roadmap recommendations. The Birth to Eight Roadmap Phase II: Implementation Planning report summarizes those action plans and describes other areas of progress. The plans connect and build upon existing community assets to support and empower families.”

Learn more about the Birth to Eight Roadmap and Colorado’s other efforts to advance early literacy from this brief video from Rocky Mountain PBS.